Legal Immagration
Bottom Line Up Front: Legal Immigration is to be encouraged and facilitated, because it helps keep our economy dynamic and our society vibrant. Illegal immigration we will deter, because it undercuts law and order and fairness to those waiting in line. Our policies will reflect compassion guided by law. We will remain a state that welcomes immigrants with open arms – when they come through the front door. And we’ll firmly shut the back door of illegal entry to protect our state’s security and sovereignty. This approach ensures that immigration continues to be a boon, not a strain, for Colorado.
a. Welcoming Lawful Immigrants: We strongly support Legal Immigration as a source of talent, innovation, and enrichment for Colorado and America. We are a nation of immigrants – many of our own families came here legally seeking freedom and opportunity. We believe the immigration system should be orderly, fair, and serve the national interest.
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b. Legal immigration means following the rule of law: those who wait their turn, comply with requirements, and respect our laws should be welcomed and integrated. In contrast, illegal immigration undermines rule of law, strains resources, and can hurt both Americans and migrants (who often fall prey to smugglers or exploitation).
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c. Our stance: make legal immigration more efficient and merit-based, while securing borders and enforcing laws to curtail illegal entry. That’s both compassionate and just – it prevents chaos and resentment and ensures immigrants can be absorbed successfully into our economy and communities.
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d. State-Level Role in a Federal Issue: Immigration policy (visas, quotas, enforcement) is primarily federal. However, states feel the impact and can influence at margins: we can discourage illegal immigration by not offering incentives and support legal immigrants through integration programs. And we can amplify our voice to the federal government on needed reforms and enforcement.
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e. Our Approach:
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1. No Sanctuary for Lawlessness: The previous Colorado administration and legislature implemented sanctuary-like policies – forbidding local police from honoring ICE detainers or sharing info about releases, giving municipal ID cards that blur status, etc. We will seek to roll those back. While we won’t have state police doing immigration raids (that’s federal duty), we also won’t shield those who break immigration law, especially if they commit other crimes. If an illegal immigrant criminal is in custody, our jails should be allowed to notify ICE and transfer them rather than releasing to potentially reoffend here. This protects our citizens and legal immigrants alike (who often are victims of the same criminals). We’ll also prevent local “sanctuary” policies where possible (some are home-rule cities, but we can use financial levers or public pressure). In short, Colorado’s stance will be cooperation with federal immigration law enforcement, not obstruction.
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2. E-Verify and Employment: Jobs are a major draw for illegal immigration. We support requiring use of E-Verify (electronic system to verify work eligibility) for Colorado employers. Some states mandate it for all or public contractors. We’d phase it in, perhaps starting with state government and large businesses, then eventually all. This levels playing field – employers following the law won’t be undercut by those hiring cheaper unauthorized labor. It also further deters illegal immigration if jobs are harder to get without legal status. Coupled with that, we support expanding legal worker programs for sectors that truly need labor (like H-2A for ag or H-2B for seasonal) – and we can streamline state processing for those visas (help with housing regs, etc.) so employers can use legal channels easier than illegal hiring.
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3. Driver’s Licenses and Benefits: Colorado allows undocumented residents to get driver’s licenses or state IDs under SB13-251. We question this policy – while road safety via testing is a goal, giving official state ID to those here unlawfully may facilitate further lawbreaking (like easier time remaining illegally or accessing other benefits). We’d push to repeal or restrict that program. At minimum, such licenses should clearly indicate not valid for voting or federal ID. On benefits: Colorado recently expanded some state benefits regardless of status (e.g., SB21-199 opened some public benefits and professional licenses to undocumented, and in 2023 Colorado even opened Medicaid-like coverage to some undocumented under 19 or pregnant). These well-intentioned steps actually encourage illegal immigration and cost taxpayers. We will reassess and likely roll back eligibility to align with federal standards (e.g., emergency medical care is one thing, but routine coverage for those here unlawfully is not an obligation). We’ll coordinate with federal authorities to ensure such programs don’t become magnets (perhaps requiring lawful presence for non-emergency benefits). The principle: citizens and legal residents first. That said, truly vulnerable undocumented individuals (like domestic violence victims) we can refer to non-profit help rather than state dole, maintaining our humanity while upholding law.
4. Law Enforcement and Community: We want immigrant communities (most of which are legal) to trust police and report crimes. Some argue sanctuary policies help that trust; we believe we can build trust by community policing and outreach without giving free passes to criminals. We’ll instruct law enforcement that their job is not to round up ordinary undocumented folks, only to interface with ICE for those who are in custody for crimes or pose threats. We can thus reassure status alone won’t make you a target for local police; focusing on criminal behavior will. Simultaneously, by discouraging illegal migration, we reduce the number of people living in shadows to begin with.
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5. Advocacy for Federal Reform: As Governor, I will lobby Congress and the Administration for reforms that align with our values: secure the border effectively (physical barriers, tech, more agents), and fix the legal immigration system by possibly raising visa caps for high-need employment categories, eliminating per country limits to reduce backlogs, and instituting a merit-based system that still preserves family unification but within reason. I’d also support a legislative solution for long-term undocumented residents who are otherwise law-abiding – something like allowing those who truly have roots (say 10+ years, English proficient, no criminal record, community ties) to earn legal status (not necessarily citizenship on a fast track, but some acknowledgment). This should come after or alongside border security improvements so we don’t repeat the cycle. This balanced approach I’d advocate as “Colorado common sense” in DC.
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6. Integration of Legal Immigrants: For those immigrating legally, we want them to succeed. We’ll support English as Second Language programs, vocational training targeted to immigrants to use their skills in our workforce (e.g., helping doctors or engineers trained abroad get licensed here). We’ll encourage civic education for new immigrants – possibly working with USCIS to expand citizenship classes and maybe hosting citizenship ceremonies at the Capitol to honor those who did it the right way. This fosters patriotism and inclusion.
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7. Refugees and Asylees: Colorado has a history of welcoming refugees (Vietnamese, Somalis, etc.). That aligns with legal pathways. We support refugee resettlement in moderation in coordination with federal agencies, ensuring we have capacity (jobs, housing) for them and that vetting is solid (no security risks). We’ll work with charitable resettlement agencies to integrate refugees into communities and not overly burden any one city. Done right, refugees become productive Coloradans (like the Hmong farmers or Afghan interpreters). This is consistent with America’s values and our needs (some small towns desire influx to bolster population). The key is legal and controlled.